Interlock system for sliding sections

ABSTRACT

AN ESTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A NUMBER OF UNITS EACH IN RELATIVE TELESCOPING, INTERLOCKING RELATIONSHIP DURING FULL EXTENSION AND FULL RETRACTION, EACH UNIT BEING CAPABLE OF INTERLOCKING SUCCESSIVELY WITH ITS ADJACENT UNIT DURING MOVEMENT BOTH TOWARD FULL EXTENSION AND FULL RETRACTION, AND EACH UNIT BEING CAPABLE OF RELEASING SUCCESSIVELY DURING MOVEMENT WITHIN ITS ADJACENT UNIT TOWARD FULL RETRACTION.

Jan. 19, 1971 G. E. HERMAN 3,555,748

INTERLOCK SYSTEM FOR SLIDING' SECTIONS i Filed May 26, 1969 v2 Sheets--ShererijI 1 ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1971 G. E. HERMAN I INTERLO-CK SYSTEM FOR SLIDING SECTIONS FiledMay 26, `1969 24 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR,

` @4A/60M .Em/557 #ff/wv BY jww/ ATTORNEYS l l l W United States Patent O 3,555,748 INTERLOCK SYSTEM FOR SLIDING SECTIONS Gangolf Ernest Herman, Downsvew, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Dominion Aluminum Fabricating Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed May 26, 1969, Ser. No. 827,807 Int. Cl. E04b 1/38, 1/343 U.S. Cl. 52-67 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to an extensible and retractable building structure and more particularly to such a structure having a number of units in telescoping inter-relationship and capable of interlocking during extension and retraction within adjacent telescoping units.

In the previous U.S. Patent No. 3,248,830 similar to the subject matter herein there is disclosed a telescoping retractable hangar usable on board ship for deck storage of helicopters. The hangar substantially comprises a section firmly xed to a base with a series of tracks mounted on the base and extending in one direction from one side of the fixed section. A number of sections in relative telescoping relationship are movable along the tracks from a retracted position to an extended position by means of moving the outermost section toward and away from the fixed section. Each of these sections is arranged in an end-to-end relationship in their fully extended position thereby serving as a storage housing for aircraft such as a helicopter on board ship. Since the hanger is retractable it can be collapsed so as to occupy a minimum of space when the hangar is not in use. Such a structure has enjoyed wide acceptance by the industry because it provides a protection of the stowed aircraft against inclement weather conditions, corrosive fumes discharging from the ships funnel, salt water and any of the other elements prevailing on board ship which may tend to corrode or damage otherwise openly-stored aircraft on a ship deck. At the same time, the earlier hangar referred to above has proven highly desirable because it can be retracted to occupy a small area of space when not in use so as not to interfere with precious landing space on board ship.

Despite all the advantages inherent in the previously patented retractable hangar system, it has been discovered that, when the outermost section is in the process of extending or retracting, one or more of the intermediate sections have a tendency to slide forward or backward to some extent. With large hangar sections of substantially great weight such uncontrolled movement during extension and retraction may prove to be dangerous for the operator or other personnel in the vicinity of the hangar. Also, the possibility of extensive damage to the hangar and deck, arises because of this floating characteristic of the intermediate sections when theyy are in any position but fully retracted or fully extended. The xed base section and the outermost moving section do not present the same problem because both can be positively controlled at all times.

With these potential problems in mind it is an object of the present invention to provide an extensible and re- Patented Jan. 19, 1971 ICC tractable building structure or hangar system comprising a number of relatively telescoping and interlocking units or sections with each unit successively interlocked with its adjacent unit during movements both toward full extension and full retraction, each unit also successively releasing during its movement towards full retraction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an interlock system for sliding telescope hangar sections wherein the outermost moving section may be securely interlocked with its adjacent intermediate section which in turn is securely interlocked with its adjacent intermediate section and so on during movement toward full extension so as to prevent any relative sliding motion between sections during the process of extension.

A further object of the present design is to provide an extensible and retractable building structure of the type described wherein retraction of the first intermediate section nearest the xed section is securely locked therein before release is automatically actuated for retraction of the next intermediate section and so on until the outermost moving section is fully retracted within the fixed section.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide an interlock system for sliding sections as characterized wherein a series of cooperating levers and rollers mounted near the ends of each section is provided for effecting the automatic interlock and release between sections during movement of the sections.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide an interlock system for an extensible and retractable building structure of the type described wherein an interlinked locking lever and cam lever is mounted on opposite sides of a mounting plate near the forward end of each intermediate section for independent respective cooperation with a cam roller and a catch roller mounted near the rearward and forward ends of the outermost and fixed sections, respectively, and mounted near the rearward ends of each intermediate sections except for the innermost one of said sections.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompaying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of view of the hangar system according to the instant invention showing the sections in fully extended telescoping relationship;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 except that the intermediate section is shown in the process of retraction;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the sections fully retracted within a fixed section of the hangar;

FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3oz-3a of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 are slightly enlarged sectional views showing the broad details of the interlock between sections taken at sections 4, 5 and 6 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, respectively;

FIG. 7 is an even more enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing the interlock system between units in more specific detail; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan |views taken substantially along the lines 8-8 and 9 9, respectively, of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown an extensible and retractable -building structure 10 which, when fully extended as shown in FIG. 1, is suitable as a hangar for aircraft such as helicopters on ya ships deck. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the building structure 10 is shown in the process of retraction and fully retracted, respectively. In each of these rviews the building-structure 10 is shown in plan view and the cross-sectional shape of each unit is shown in FIG. 3a of the drawings which depicts the structure as a well-known quonset-hut type structure. The structure compises basically a ixed unit 11 mounted onto the ships deck, for example, by any conventional means, and any number of movable sections depending on the ultimate size of the hangar required for adequately housing the helicopter. For purposes of illustation, an outermost movable section 12 is shown and only one intermediate unit 13 because such a structure having three units at the minimum is sucient to show the interlocking means between the units. In each of the FIGS. 1 through 3a the structure is shown schematically, it being understood that a plurality of arcuately-shaped struts and cross members faced with a sheet of metal may serve to make up each of the units as suggested in the prior patent. For example, channel-shaped arcuate members 14 shown in cross-section in each of the FIGS. 4, and 6 may be used as the structural support means for shaping each of the units so that a metal sheet 15 of steel, aluminum or a light metal alloy may be applied to the members 14 and treated, if desired, to resist weather conditions and corrosion. In FIG. 1 it can be seen that a pair of tracks 16 are provided for each of the movable sections 12 and 13, it being further noted that such tracks are not shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 3a for purposes of clarity. As in the prior patent, the lower end of each movable section may be provided with an extension having wheels thereon for freely rolling each of the units along the tracks. The movable sections 12 and 13 may be retracted from a position as shown in FIG. 1 to a fully-retracted position as shown in FIG. 3 in a telescoping relationship to each other. The forward end of the unit 12 may be provided 'with' a door means 17 and arranged to move between an open and closed position as shown, for example, in the prior patent disclosure.

.Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, it should rst be noted that the outermost unit 12 and the intermediate unit 13 are interlocked in their fully-extended position in end-to-end relationship as shown. Because there is no interlock between sections 11 and 13 during either extension or retraction, interlocked units 12 and 13 may be moved from a position of FIG. 1 to its position of FIG. 2 thereby moving together as an interlocked unit while being retracted within the fixed unit 11 as shown in FIG. 5. Ihe outermost unit 12 is released from intermediate unit 13 simultaneous with the interlocking between intermediate unit 13 and the lixed -unit 11 so that the outermost unit 12 is free to be fully retracted within the fixed and intermediate units as shown in FIG. 6. Unit 12 is not locked in a fully retracted position since it would be unnecessary to do so by reason of the moving means for retracting the units in a rea-rward direction. Such a means comprises a motor 18 (see FIG. 1), which may be an electric motor, driving each of a pair of winchs 19, each Winch moving each cable clocklwise and counterclockwise around rollers 23 and 24, the latter of which are secured to the deck forward of the door means 17. Each of the cables 21 and 22 is attached to the door means 17 as at 25 such that rotation of the winch 19 will move the outermost section 12 either toward or away from the xed unit, simil-arly as described in the prior patent.

lReference is now made to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings for an enlarged detailed showing of the locking means between hangar units. There is shown a locking lever 2.6 mounted near one end of the intermediate unit 13 onto a mounting plate 27 for pivotal movement by means of a pin 28. A corresponding locking lever 26 is mounted on the opposite side of plate 27 for pivotal movement about a pin 28. A pair of guide rods 29, 31 are mounted on a support plate 32 with the rods 29, 31 extending through a suitably apertured bar 33 with each of the rods being supported at their lower end by means of a bracket 34. A catch roller 35 and a cam roller 36 are respectively mounted for rotation on the bar 33,

4 the catch roller 35 being mounted in the same vertical plane as that of the locking lever 26. The bar 33 and its mounted rollers 35, 36 are maintained midway between the ends of the rods 29, 31 by means of two pair of compression springs 37, 37. By identifying the parts, which correspond to those elements already described, with a prime it can be seen that a pair of guide rods 29', 31' yare mounted near the forward end of the xed unit 11 onto a support plate 32. The rods extend through suitably provided apertures in a bar 33' and are stabilized at their ends by means of a bracket 34. A catch roller 35 and a cam roller 36 are, as with their corresponding parts, mounted for rotation on the bar 33 with the catch roller 35 being planar with the locking lever 26 mounted on the mounting plate 27. Each of the locking levers 26, 26 is urged in a direction toward their respective catch rollers by means of a compression spring 38, 38',

respectively. One end of each of these compression springsV bears against one side of its associated locking lever while the other end of each of the springs bears against a transversely extending block 39, 39', respectively, mounted on opposite sides of mounting plate 27 as clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Also mounted on opposite sides of the mounting plate 27 are cam levers y41, 41', each pivotable about a pin 42, 42', respectively, and each interconnected with its corresponding locking levers 26, 26 by means of link bars 43, 43. One end of each link is pinned to one end of the respective cam levers 41, 41 for pivotal movement as by pins 44, 44'. The other end of each link is mounted to its respective locking lever 26, 26 for pivotal movement as by pins 45, d45. In order for the locking levers and cam levers to freely pivot on the mounting plate 27, a number of spacer washers 46 are provided as clearly shown in FIG. 8.

Also mounted on opposite sides of the mounting plate 27 are end-stop blocks 47, 47 which, as more clearly shown in FIG. 9, extend at one end thereof to overlie catch rollers 35, 35', respectively.

In operation, it can be seen that the outermost unit 12 and the intermediate unit 13 are interlocked and moved as a unit toward the fixed unit 11, such an interlock being effected by means of the catch roller 35 being positioned snugly between the end stop block 47 and the end of locking lever 26. In this position, the cam lever 41 bears against the cam roller 36 which are both in the same vertical plane. Accordingly, this bearing position has caused the cam lever 41 to pivot about its pin 42 whereby the interlinked locking lever 26 has been drawn inwardly out of interference With the catch roller 35' which occupies the same plane as the locking lever 26. I

In the position shown in FIG. 7, the locking lever 26 is prevented from being pivoted further to the left than shown by means of one side of the cam lever 41 bearing against an angular side of the block 39 (see also FIG. 4). In FIG. 5, the interlocked units 12 and 13 are shown as they approach full retraction Within the xed unit 11. In FIG. 7, the Vinterlocked units 12 and 13 are shown more fully retracted within the unit 11 as compared to that of FIG. 5 such that the cam lever 41 is commencing to bear against cam roller 36'. As the interlocked units 12 and 13 continue their movement toward full retraction, as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 7, the cam lever 41 is caused to pivot about its pin 42 While it continues to bear against cam roller 36. Accordingly, the

interlinked locking lever 26 will be drawn inwardly against the force of spring 38 by means of 'the link bar position within the intermediate unit 13. As the unit 12 moves inwardly, the cam lever 41 will be permitted to move farther toward unit 12 until it is fully extended under the action of compression spring 38 which has now urged the locking lever 26' to a position in the path of an underlying roller 35', as clearly shown in FIG. 6. Of course, the end stop block 47 on the intermediate unit 13 has been brought to rest on the catch roller 35' so, now, the units 11 and 13 are interlocked in a fully retracted position with catch roller 35 interposed between stop block 47 and locking lever 26. From the position of FIG. 6, which shows only the lever mechanism on the far side of the mounting plate 27, it can be seen that the outermost unit 12 is maintained in its fully retracted position by means of winch 19 and cables 21, 22, while the intermediate unit 13 is securely interlocked with the fixed unit 11.

During extension of the outermost unit 12, the cam roller 36 will be moved into contact with cam lever 41 which will thereupon pivot on its pin 42 and draw the interlinked locking lever 26 inwardly away from catch roller 35 so as to release the intermediate unit 13 from fixed unit 11 during" the process of extension. Although the locking lever 26 is innermost in its relation to cam lever 41', it should be noted that no part of the unit 12 will contact the lever 26 because it is maintained inwardly drawn by reason of cam lever 41 bearing against cam roller 36 during the interlock between units 13 and 11. However, as soon as the cam lever 41 is contacted by the cam roller 36, as aforedescribed, thereby releasing units 13 and 11, the catch roller 35 will be made to bear against the under side of end stop block 47 thereby moving intermediate unit 13 slightly upwardly whereby cam lever 41 will then be urged further outwardly as it continues to bear against its cam roller 36. In so doing, the interlinked locking lever 26 will also move outwardly toward the outermost unit 12 into a position where it will underlie and snugly contact the catch roller 35 for securely interlocking the units 12 and 13 during movement toward full extension of the hanger.

In order for the support plate 32 on the unit 12 to bypass the extension of end stop block 47 during its movement toward full retraction and full extension, the plate 32 is provided with a cutout section 48 as clearly shown in FIG. 9. Similarly, the support plate 32' is provided with a cutout portion 48' in order to permit that plate to bypass the end of stop block 47' during full extension and full retraction of the units.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the problem of fioating or sliding of intermediate units during extension and retracting of a telescoping building structure has been substantially avoided with the interlock system according to the instant invention. From a position of full retraction and before the hangar is fully extended, the intermediate unit is interlocked with the outermost moving unit while, at the same time, the intermediate unit is released from the fixed unit for permitting movement toward full extension. When a position of full extension is reached, any suitable stop mechanism may be used between the intermediate and fixed sections in order to maintain them in an end-to-end relationship. These two sections need not be locked together since the moving means serves to maintain the hangar sections fully extended. On the other hand, movement toward a retracted position requires that both the outermost and intermediate units move together as a unit in an interlocking telescoping relationship. When the intermediate unit is almost fully retracted within the fixed unit the outermost unit is automatically released from the intermediate unit thereby permitting full retraction of all units of the hangar. Again, because of the moving means no interlock between the outermost and intermediate units is necessary because the cables through the action of the winding winches will act to maintain the outermost section securely within the fixed section.

It should be noted that sealing means located near the ends of each section may be provided for the purpose of maintaining the building structure wind and water tight when in its fully extended position. Also, it should be recognized that more than one of the looking units as aforedescribed may be provided between units 12 and 13 and between units 11 and 13 without departing from the teachings of the invention.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An extensible and retractable building structure comprising:

at least three units each in relative telescoping, interlocking relationship during full extension and full retraction;

means for moving said units from a retracted telescoped position to an extended position;

a first locking means on both the intermediate one of said units and one of the end ones of said units cooperable for interlocking said intermediate and said one end units together in an extended position of said units;

a first release means on both the other one of said end units and said intermediate unit cooperable in releasing said locking means on said intermediate unit for unlocking said one end unit from said intermediate unit when said intermediate unit approaches its fully retracted position within said other unit;

a second locking means on both said intermediate unit and said other end unit cooperable for interlocking said intermediate and said other end unit together in a fully retracted position of said units; and

a second release means on said one end unit cooperable with said second locking means on said intermediate unit for releasing said intermediate unit from said other end unit when said one end unit is in a fully extended position.

2. The building structure according to claim 1 wherein said first locking means comprises a first catch roller mounted on said one end unit and extending toward said intermediate unit, a mounted first stop member and a pivotally mounted first locking lever on said intermediate unit extending toward and in the path of said first catch roller on opposite sides thereof for interlocking said one end unit and said intermediate unit together.

3. The building structure according to claim 2 wherein said first release means comprises a first cam roller mounted on said other end unit and extending toward said intermediate unit, a first cam lever pivotally mounted on said intermediate unit in contact with said first cam roller, and a first link inner connecting said first cam lever to said first locking lever for pivotally moving said first locking lever out of the path of said rst catch roller as said first cam roller is pivoted by movement of said intermediate unit toward its fully retracted position within said other unit.

4. The building structure according to claim 3 wherein a first stop block is mounted on said intermediate member and a first spring member is provided between said first stop block and said first locking lever for urging said interlinked first locking lever and said first cam lever a maximum distance apart.

5. The building structure according to claim 4 wherein said first stop block is so positioned on said intermediate unit relative to said first cam lever as to limit the maximum distance between said first cam lever and first locking lever upon action of said first spring member.

6. The building structure according to claim S wherein said second locking means comprises a second catch roller mounted on said other end unit and extending towards said intermediate unit, a mounted second stop member and a pivotally mounted second locking lever on said intermediate unit extending toward and in the path of second catch roller on opposite sides thereof for interlocking said intermediate unit and said other end unit together.

7. The building structure according to claim 6 wherein said second release means comprises a second cam roller mounted on said one end unit and extending toward said intermediate unit, a second cam lever pivotally mounted on said intermediate unit in Contact with said second cam roller, and a second link interconnecting said second cam lever to said second locking lever for pivotally moving said second locking lever out of the path of said second catch roller as sai-d second cam roller is pivoted by movement of said one end unit toward its fully extended position relative to said intermediate unit.

8. The building structure according to claim 7 wherein a second stop block is mounted on said intermediate member and a second spring member is provided between said second stop block and said second locking lever for urging said interlinked second locking lever and said second cam lever a maximum distance apart.

9. The building structure according to claim 8 wherein said second stop block is so positioned on said intermediate unit relative to said second cam lever so as t0 limit the maximum distance between said second cam lever and said second locking lever upon action of said second spring member.

10. The building structure according to claim 5 wherein a first bar member is provided for mounting said first cam roller and said first catch roller thereon, a pair of first guide rods for mountingsaid first bar member onto said one end unit, and a third spring member being provided on each said first guide rods for positioning said first bar member on said first guide rods.y f

11. The building structure accor-ding to claim 9 wherein a second bar member is provided. for mounting said second cam roller and said second catch roller thereon, a pair of second guide rods for mounting said second bar member onto said other end unit, an-d fourth spring member provided on each said second guide rods for positioning said second bar member on said second guide rods. v

References Cited FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner S. D. BURKE, III, Assistant Examiner Us. C1. X.R. 

